Nashua Telegraph from Nashua, New Hampshire • Page 26

26 Nashua Telegraph, Thursday, November 13,1975 Husband, Wife Share Artist's Life Dunstable Potters Open School By CYNTHIA JONES mixture of beginning potter clay There is an upsur each other's needs as a work- The artist's life is one of with the professional is an-ini- -J 4 pottery and crafts in general, ing person; sharing and car- isolation, but when the artist portant ingredient. The it seems to be an awareness of ing follows. If Kendra is fall- and his wife share the same professional potter, with his sujueaimvmwrewui talent and working ideals, the expertise, needs to become isolation is bearable. a a i with the David and Kendra Davison refreshing confidence brought are the artists whose par- by the novice, he said. He said students bring all their needs, talent and expectations to the school and relate and absorb at an in- after day we have to judge dividual level in a flexible at- each week teaching small glazed and porcelain pottery, something that we are sharing mcsphere that includes lee- i asses a the Museum School Though pieces may be similar rt i ticular field is pottery.

Kendra said, "Being a potter is really a solitary thing. It is just you and the clay, but day the need that all persons have to make a statement that is uniquely individual," Davison said. When the school is not -in session, both artists work side by side, sometimes never speaking, but in complete harmony. David is away two days ing behind in David will make the dinner; if David is working past the point of endurance, she senses it and can urge him to rest for a while. The gallery craft shop carries a continually changing selection of stoneware, salt with one another and it is more exciting because there are two people involved." Their home is a restored tures and critiquing sessions while allowing for informality and experimentation.

Students come from all over also conducts a in form, each is original in that the artist has refined and redefined his initial concept. A half dozen or more kilns, the quality obtained by mixing other materials to obtain a natural looking patina. The Japanese technique of making pottery, called raku, is also of special interest to David. This technique accelerates the process by using special clay, glazes and firing methods so a piece can withstand thermal shock. The piece is finished in a half-hour or less where normal firing time, might be from 10 to 20 hours.

Special effects on the inished piece can be achieved from submerging it in hay, snow or. other materials. country. 3 Both say they miss the com- 1734 salt box house on Hardy and have luded a nest a panionship of being together all constructed by Davison, Davison said with this process Road in Dunstable, Mass. The professional singer, a sister, a when Dav id is away.

Their' are in evidence and include a anticipate the unex- house was built to the land retired bomb demolition ex- way of life offers them choice 125 cubic foot shuttle, with a full southern exposure and Davison's restoration of it has taken advantage of this fact. All'hand-hewn beams are exposed; the enormous center fireplace with its old brick and one doing doctoral work in physics and enzymes. Asked about the increased interest in pottery, Davison said there has been renewed and flexibility, but both agree there is never enough time. A definite priority is set on producing pottery, however. Kendra likes to work in sets of things, frequently in catenary arch, raku and several primitive kilns.

Davison has a particular interest in soda ash pieces. The method is similar to salt glazing which was done exten- hearth dominates the interior, interest, but noted the quality porc elain made of white sively in this country in the and removal of extraneous of pottery has not improved to English china clay from which making of liquor jugs and walls give an airy content- a proportionate degree. He she ac ieves translucent porary effect. believes many people go colors in redSj i aven ders and Studio, small gallery and through their first decade of oranges av id, as an artist, school are attached, and the working, find they are hates repetition, preferring to setting is an old apple orchard questioning what they want to exp i ore an experiment. do and will then try other her husband's work, thin Kendra "David is the "Shops and galleries are biggest risk taker I have ever crying for pottery.

What has known. He dares to make an in A i a extra pull and will try anun- ceramics in the last 40 years usual color." is as significant as any chang- The two have high energy ing period in the history of but are sensitive of with trees that continue to bear. The Davisons came to Dunstable three years ago to find just such a location to open the gallery and school which they call Federal Furnace Pottery. They operate the school for two two-week sessions in July, and again in January. Their students rank i a intermediates to professional potters, with no more than 15 students per session.

Both are graduates of Massachusetts College of He taught at the college for seven years while also operating galleries on Cape Cod. She was a student at the college, majoring in education in ceramics and crafts when they met. She taught art hi Westford, for a year while he was rebuilding the house. Davison left the college because of the vast numbers of students he was teaching. He said the school had grown out of proportion to the things he believes in as a teacher.

The couple, is concerned with what David calls the anonymity in schools, both as teachers and as parents. The small mixed classes of their school provides a better opportunity for both teacher and student. Davison said the bean pots. The pots were fired, then salt was thrown into the kiln which vaporized to form a glossy effect. The disadvantage was that the method produced poisonous chlorine gas.

It was discovered several years ago that soda ash could be used as a substitute with a harmless by-product of carbon dioxide. David's interest in this technique is pected. A leading New England potter and sculptor, Davison has been working in clay for. more than 10 years. He has also taught at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Student Center, and has lectured at seminars- and workshops throughout the northeast.

He is president of the New England Sculptors Association. Canadian born Kendra Davison has been teaching and working with clay for the past four years. The Davisons have traveled and studied in the South Pacific, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. They have four children. Artists At Ease Kendra and David Davison enjoy a moment of rest in the warm autumn sunlight in front of their gallery which adjoins their home.

Both are energetic workers and place a high priority of time, to producing pottery which includes ceramic jewelry, large sculpture and other objects in a variety of sizes and shapes. (Telegraphoto Jones) District Director To Visit Nashaway Glub on Monday Mrs. Donald E. Barren, Manchester District director, will make her official visit to the Nashaway Woman's Club at its meeting on Monday in the Arts and Science Center. She will present the projects the N.H.

Federation of Women's Clubs hopes to complete this year. Germaine Brown, Marjorie Champagne, Mae Frank, Simone Goulet, Winifred Hersey, Katrina Anderson, Jeanette Bastille, -Vera a i a i i a Richardson. Members are reminded to bring unwrapped gifts for the 65 patients at the State the Deerfield Women's Club meeting on Nov. 18 or the one in Candia on are asked to notify the "president, Mrs. Helen Kimball, or the secretary, Mrs.

Louise Ekstrom. Members planning to attend Restored Colonial recent additions are the gallery and studio in the rear. Extensive work throughout has given the interior of the house and artist-potter's studio an airy 'contemporary look. (Telegraphoto Jones) This 1734 salt box house is the home of David and DeleaateS Kendra Davison, Dunstable, and also the Federal Furnace Pottery summer and winter schools. The house Attonrlinn was com restored by Davison three years ago and G.s.

Session Fortnightly Members To Hear NHFWC President Dessert, to be served at 1:15 Hospital who come from the under the chairmanship of Nashua area. Ribbon wrapp- Mrs. Madeleine Miller, will ing and money also will precede the business meeting be welcomed, at 2. At this time two new members will be welcomed. There also will be a a "Bows and "Creations," featuring a demonstration of how to make many kinds of bows, and how to create numerous other items out of ribbon.

Thirteen members of the Nashaway Woman's Club attended the recent reciprocity day at the Milford Woman's Club, and enjoyed a program, "Ebb Tide," by Warren Toppan. Those attending were Mrs. Kimball, Gladys Gove, Flora Swain, Rose Gallant, R. B. CROTEAU PHOTOGRAPHY (formerly Tureette our crMtlvHy CHRISTMAS SPECIAL color sitting fM 25 Cards for only $24.50 34 West far! SL MM 101 NASHUA MALL The Swift Water Girls Scout Council is holding its semiannual meeting today in the Middle Street Baptist Church, Portsmouth.

Delegates from this area include Marian Gradzewicz, Beverly Fisher a'nd Mrs. William Haswell of Deny; Mrs. Richard Pollock of Londonderry; Mrs. Arthur Weiss, Mrs. Arthur Moody and Mrs.

Mary B. White of Amherst; Mrs. Joann Warren, Miss Mary Warren, Mrs. Evelyn Gordon and Mrs. Thomas Hunt and Mrs.

Anthony DeFruscio of Salem, Mrs. Albert Adams of Milford and Mrs. Kenneth LaBough of Wilton. Delegates are hearing a report on the National.Council meeting and Council financing. Representatives from Senior, Cadette, Junior and Brownie Scout levels are participating in a panel discussion.

Highlighting the meeting is a series of workshops. Mrs. Glenn W. Bricker, president of the N.H. Federation of Women's Clubs, will speak at the Nov.

19 meeting of the Hudson Fortnightly Club Memorial Hall, Hudson Center Church. The meeting will open at 8 p.m., with Mrs. Andrew" Polack serving as hostess. President Mrs. Charles Parker will conduct the business meeting.

Members are asked to bring canned and packaged food for the Christmas basket, and unwrapped Christmas gifts for Retreat League Plans Meeting a i Single Women's Retreat League will conduct a meeting Nov. 21-23 in the Oblate Retreat House, Hudson. All interested are invited. Participants must be 21 years of age or older. More information may be had by contacting the Retreat House in Hudson.

men or women at the State Hospital. Suggested gifts for women include: personal items such as soap; bath powder, tooth paste, lotions, perfume, lipstick, shampoo or deodorants and grooming aids such as combs, brushes, barrettes, curlers, head bands, home permanents, face cloths; towels and kleenex. Clothing items could include panty hose, slipper, knee socks, fancy aprons, leotards, undergarments, gloves, scarves and mittens. Gifts for men might include gloves, wallets, belts, i nail clippers, handkerchiefs, flashlight batteries or tie clips, or perhaps shaving and grooming needs or smoking supplies. Gifts for either a man or woman could be stationery, pens and pencils, playing cards, tea bags or instant coffee.

Members are asked to in wrappings for the gifts. Co-chairing refreshments will be Mrs. Francis Bogan and Mrs. Albert Lambert. Design Center BROOKLINE, N.H.

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